Who Says You Can't Go Home?

[skiroule]

A little change of pace here:

Wasn’t sure about posting this but then I thought “what the heck”. I always enjoy reading about stuff going on with other members.

It’s been a crazy summer at our household for a number of reasons but most notably, my wife and I have been spending a lot of time searching for a place in or near our hometown in northern MN. We have now agreed to terms on a place in the country and if things work out as planned, we’ll be making the permanent move north by late summer. Funny how things work out - when we graduated from high school we couldn’t get out of town fast enough. I guess time changes your perspective. Now we’re looking forward to going back.

It will be cool to be able to ride a sled out of the yard again and instead of a 7 hour drive to our little lake place in NW Ontario, it will be less than an hour.

There will be some adjustments after almost 50 years of city living but we’ve spent so much time at the cabin over the last year doing a full remodel that we’re pretty much back in the flow of what it’s like to be back in a small town environment.

I can still remember a comment John made a couple of years back during an unusually cold spell in the U.P. He said “If I wanted it this cold, I’d move to northern MN”. I’m pretty sure it was a compliment.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

Good for you Kelly! If you are like me, the only thing you will miss about the big city is all of the food choices, but other than that, I don't miss a thing! Riding out of the yard will be awesome again, it has many benefits. I'm very happy for you and your wife, you have to be excited! Keep us informed as you go through the move. They do have computers up there, don't they eh?

 

[ezra]

Good for you Kelly! They do have computers up there, don't they eh?

they do but I think they have a handle on the side u have to keep cranking to make them work .
enjoy the move north .
6hrs u really are going up a ways

 

[bearrassler]

That sounds great Kelly, I hope the property has a big shed or pole barn for your vintage collection. I also hope you will take me riding through some of the swamps and rivers off trail. In return I can take you on some of our off trail areas in ND

 

[wirev]

Wow! When I lived in ND there were few trails, it was all off trail and ditch-bangin', lol.

 

[skiroule]

Thanks guys…Taking a little longer to type this, can't crank and type at the same time.

I have to say I’m looking forward to next winter even more now. The trails are a vintage rider’s dream – smooth and virtually no traffic. Even with a vintage sled, you can cover some ground. Might even take one across the lake to Oak Island (if I’m feeling lucky).

Rassler, I’m expecting a banner snow year and hopefully the swamps/rivers will freeze early so they will be good all winter. Also definitely want to get back over to ND this winter. Need to break in that new Switchback motor. Heck, Walhalla and the Pembina Gorge will be a day trip now.

More sled storage is high on the priority list and I wouldn’t mind having a dedicated, heated area to work on the late model or the vintage sleds, something I’ve never had.

 

[sweeperguy]

Funny how things work out - when we graduated from high school we couldn’t get out of town fast enough. I guess time changes your perspective. Now we’re looking forward to going back.

There will be some adjustments after almost 50 years of city living

My plan is to move back to the Soo either in retirement or earlier would even be cool.
I can totally relate to wanting to move away when in high school. So much so, I went into the Navy at 17 before graduation to get away.

 

[eagle1]

Sounds like good plan. Less city more sledding!! Congrats.

 

[HIGHLANDER]

am I reading this correctly? you and your wife are high school sweethearts? you two have been together 50yrs?! that within it self deserves a congrats!

 

[skiroule]

Very perceptive and Thanks!

We were indeed high school sweethearts and have in fact been together over 50 yrs. We thought it would be a good plan to make our fortune as a team after high school. That plan was only marginally successful but there have been no regrets.

Needless to say, sledding has always been in the mix and I’ve made a commitment to restore a vintage sled that is the same model as my wife’s first performance sled. This is a shot of her sled taken on the Baudette Bay in the early 70’s (after we had made enough money to buy a couple of sleds that were pretty fast for the day). Hopefully I can take the same photo of a restored version of her sled during a future winter.

 

[Cirrus_Driver]

Congrats on the move decision. Northern MN, with a cabin in NW Ontario to ride out of - talk about a dream. Are you keeping the Ontario place? I'm also just a few short years away from moving, to northern WI. I'd like to stay in my place on the small lake, (central Vilas) but might be overruled, and end up on a bigger lake so we don't have to tow a bigger boat to fish. Don't know, but anywhere up there is better than southern WI.

 

[samc]

Congratulations..... Living the dream. Wish could make a permanent move to our lake place but have a few more years before considering it.

 

[G]

Did you buy south of town in the swamp with the wolverines and bigfoots or are you east with the transplanted hillbilly banjo-players?

 

[skiroule]

Congrats on the move decision. Northern MN, with a cabin in NW Ontario to ride out of - talk about a dream. Are you keeping the Ontario place? I'm also just a few short years away from moving, to northern WI. I'd like to stay in my place on the small lake, (central Vilas) but might be overruled, and end up on a bigger lake so we don't have to tow a bigger boat to fish. Don't know, but anywhere up there is better than southern WI.

A bigger lake might give you a little more variety in structure for fishing but I don’t see how you could go wrong keeping your current place either. Probably be nice to not have to trailer a boat though.

We’ll definitely be keeping the cabin on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods, as that is where we will spend most of our time in the summer. With water frontage and a big crib dock it’s great for getting out on the lake. Our future home on the U.S. side is close to the Rainy River (about 2 blocks) but does not have shoreline or direct river access. Still, it will give us close proximity to ramps if we want to launch and fish the Big Traverse.

It is kind of a dream situation but believe me, it’s more the result of luck than careful planning. We’re not that smart. If we can do it, anyone can do it.

Did you buy south of town in the swamp with the wolverines and bigfoots or are you east with the transplanted hillbilly banjo-players?

Worse yet, we'll almost be neighbors when you're up at your summer compound.

 

[G]

Wise choice. You will always be able to sell it when you get really old in 40 years and you don't have MN waterfront taxes to pay. You could rent a slip at one of the resorts and buy Grub's Tub 1 and go up to your Ontario cabin. I pulled the trigger on Grub's Tub 2 so I have a reliable but cosmetically deficient boat for you to buy. I can't think of anyone more capable to fix it up to showroom status.

 

[skiroule]

I’d settle for 15 years.

Both big water boats for sure (“tub” is just Grub’s affectionate name for them).

I’ve been out on “Tub 1” and it was a pretty cool boat. Yeah, she probably burns a fair amount of fuel but the sound of a marine 454 Chevy is almost worth it. If I could actually find fish, maybe I could buy it and set up a home-grown charter operation. I could offer the option of working for beer but the financially savvy clients would save a lot of money by just paying a flat, standard fee.

 

[bigvin]

Congrats bro! How cool is that,...
After reading all the posts,..kinda reminds me a bit of my tune "Walk Away Town",... Everyone leaves thinking
the grass is greener somewhere other than where they are from only to find most returning to what they Really
are in search from,...
So,... Welcome back Andersons to your Walk Away town!
)
ME and the Mrs are headed to Nashville for a couple weeks in July,... Looking for places to set our Next phase of life roots in,...
Have to be "present to win" as they say,... and I think I still have some more tunes left in me!
Have a Great one!
~Vin

 

[ezra]

Nashville is a fun town .
I lived in Franklin for about a yr pretty much every weekend Nashville.

 

[Admin]

Congrats Kelly!

Sounds like things have come full circle and you and your wife are on your way to new adventures!

Oh, it was a compliment, cold is a relative thing! You Minnesota-ers are tough cookies!

-John

 

[skiroule]

Last year was a pretty mild winter for the area. Thinking this winter will be more typical, hopefully also in the snow department.

kinda reminds me a bit of my tune "Walk Away Town"
~Vin

I couldn’t attempt to count how many times I’ve listened to “Walk Away Town” on the trips north. One of your best and as you said, It seems to strike a chord (pardon the pun). Looking forward to much more Vin music, after all you’re just a pup.